Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

I thank Deputies Murphy and Coppinger and their staff for bringing this very important legislation forward. I support the Bill and its intention to provide mandatory union recognition where 20% or more of the workforce are members of a union. Union representation is extremely important to ensure that union reps have access to their members' places of work. This is vital. It is also important that unions are able to negotiate with employers on pay, hours and conditions. Sadly, this is not always the case in Ireland, as employers have no obligation to even acknowledge trade unions. We have seen many examples of many employers who failed to engage with trade unions at all, which is unacceptable today.

Most of the private healthcare sector does not recognise or engage with trade unions. We all know examples of big companies that refuse to recognise trade unions for collective bargaining. I will not name and shame them but it is not hard to find reports of companies with hundreds of employees who are not recognised because there is no union recognition nor is it hard to find people with negative experiences of trying to get their employers to recognise unions.

I have personal experience of employers failing to recognise or engage with trade unions in the past. Trade unions offer numerous benefits to their members and are so often needed for the purposes of negotiation and representation. A union can make a significant difference when fighting for fairer and better conditions for workers and assisting them to access legal protections in workplace disputes and financial resources.

Workers have a right to be represented. We all know the value of the trade unions. In many situations, the presence of a trade union representative is crucial. Unions representing healthcare workers have been instrumental in reaching agreement with the HSE and the WRC over staffing and recruitment. They demanded changes to how staffing vacancies in the HSE were reviewed and also called on the health service to accelerate the recruitment process for vacant posts. Unions representing the firefighters in Donegal have been vital in fighting for adequate resources and accountability.

Workers have the right to organise and be heard. It is shocking that Ireland remains one of the few European countries where there is no right to union recognition. This needs to change. It is a change that the Government has to process. I urge the Government to progress this Bill.

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